Promoter Frank Warren is targeting an all-British heavyweight unification fight between Moses Itauma and Daniel Dubois within two years. Itauma meets Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF title on 29 August, while Dubois holds the WBO crown.
Queensberry Promotions holds a firm grip on the heavyweight division, managing WBO champion Dubois, WBC titleholder Agit Kabayel, and young contender Itauma. Oleksandr Usyk recently vacated his IBF belt, allowing Warren to restructure the division’s schedule. Mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez stepped aside, paving the way for Itauma’s bout against Filip Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena on 29 August to serve as a clash for the vacant IBF title. Sanchez will wait to face the winner.
Warren aims to consolidate the major belts under his promotional banner. Outlining his schedule for crowning an undisputed champion, Warren said: “I think it’ll happen within the next 18 months [or] two years. Obviously, we’ve got to get the sanctioning bodies together to agree to a unification programme. That means mandatories being pushed back and so forth.”
Asked if an undisputed clash between Itauma and Dubois was his preferred outcome, Warren confirmed his interest while keeping other fights in mind. He stated: “At this moment – yeah, I’d say so. Unless the winner of [Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua] is going to carry on and be involved. And I believe the winner will be Tyson.”
Warren reinforced the domestic appeal of matching two heavy punchers in a major stadium. He added: “[But] what a great fight that [would be between] Moses Itauma [and] Daniel Dubois down the road – two massive punchers. That’s a stadium filler all day long.”
Dubois is set to defend his title in an October rematch against Fabio Wardley, whom he stopped in the 11th round in May. Kabayel is also scheduled to defend his WBC belt later this year. The remaining major title belongs to WBA champion Murat Gassiev, who currently fights under IBA Pro but has shown interest in joining Queensberry’s roster. Addressing Gassiev, Warren noted: “At the moment, all our top heavyweights are involved in fights. But of course, we’d love to get [Gassiev] as part of the scene. He’s a quality fighter. Why wouldn’t he want to get involved with [Queensberry]? We’re the home of the heavyweights.”
